Pulling a plug

[certified male]

Is this how it works? You hear a faint good signal and assuming it's deep,should you dig a 2-3" plug and try it again so you can keep going deeper? can you keep pulling dirt and checking so you can theoretically go very deep ( say it's a deep dime 12" or more) or would you not even hear it?

[Buster]

I would dig the plug and see if it is in the plug first..Then maybe grab a handful of loose dirt from the hole and wave it in front of your coil..If still nothing then recheck your hole and pin point again...Then dig down and try it one more time...I do not use a pin pointer as the rest do..That's the way I was shown when I started..but that would work also if you got one...also, if you are digging down 12 or so inches then it has to be a old target..plus that is a lot of digging for sure...I am sure there will be more on this post to help out...Good luck...Buster...

[EBCIII]

I like to get the plug to one side of the hole on a drop cloth. I then scan the hole again to see if target is in hole or not. If not I do the handful of dirt under the coil routine until it beeps. If it is still in the hole I pinpoint againd and repet process, Beale.

[grasshopper]

check out this video, it's very helpful:

YouTube - Research and Recovery: How To Dig a Plug

[ERnurse]

If the target shows it's deep. I dig a 6-8 inch diameter plug 4 inches deep. I sweep the plug, if no coin, I sweep the hole. My sniper coil fits down in the hole and I can turn it side to side to see if the coin is in the bottom or on the side of the hole.

[liquid1]

what beale said..practice makes perfect..

[Bryan Jon]

I agree. I know I am getting better at cleaner plugs .I use a small measuring cup to scoop the dirt out too, and check to see if the target is in the cup.

Originally Posted by liquid1

what beale said..practice makes perfect..

[Xray]

Originally Posted by grasshopper

check out this video, it's very helpful:

YouTube - Research and Recovery: How To Dig a Plug

Not bad, but he is rushing things a bit, and you can almost be guaranteed to gouge up a fair share or targets digging like that.
I am lucky enough to know of a few old lots, undetected except for myself, and have pulled dozens of old coins and relics from them ... And continue to do so. Especially in places like this which are known to produce relics, much more finesse is needed than demonstrated in this video.

I use a 5 in 1 painting tool, commonly found at any hardware store, to easily dig precise plugs up to 7 inches or so. Since I use the Ace 250 and 7 inches is the practical limit for coin sized objects, I can be fairly certain that if I have not found it in 7 inches, that it is something other than s small metal object.
I start the face of the plug a good inch or so behind where I have pinpointed the object, and usually make the plug about 4-5 inches square.
I end up with a plug about 3-4 inches when it is turned over, so half the digging is done within seconds.
I scan the plug, and obviously the hunt is over if its in there.
If its still in the hole, I do recut a plug, sort of. I dig in on the sides of the cut plug [presuming that the object is somewhere in the middle], and push inwards and up to crumble another 3 inches of soil. In this manner, you are very unlikely to gouge the target, it is likely to be in one of the upturned dirt clumps.
If is still is in the hole, I shave an inch or so from all sides. I have found that coins on edge or angle can often throw off the pinpoint by a good inch or two, projecting its image well away from where the pinpoint is telling you it is. For whatever reason, it is almost always to the front if its a coin, and usually to one side or the other if its a junk target.
For this, a handheld pinpointed in nearly mandatory, as it can easily detect small metal objects lurking in the walls of holes and, once again, save you from a damaged coin.

The above applies mostly to easy/moderate digging conditions, where the soil is fairly pliable.
More effort, and various techniques, would be required for sun baked soil, which I try my best to avoid in the first place until rain softens it up.

It is indeed wise, as shown in the video, to use something to store the upturned dirt on. Not only does it make possible recovery easier, but makes for a cleaner looking repaired hole. I use a frisbee with a little string/belt loop attachment, but a cloth will work fine [except, I imagine, in wet/damp soil conditions, which will quickly trash the cloth, and make a complete mess of your hands just trying to lug it around].

It is fairly easy to strike a reasonable balance between efficiency and caution when digging, practice makes perfect.